10 Business Books Every Entrepreneurs Should Read

Being an Entrepreneur is not child play as it mostly requires enormous knowledge of how to run a business, manage money and carry out several other business-related activities. Unfortunately, most of these basic business skills are not taught in school, making it virtually impossible for a regular person to venture into business. However, thanks to technology and the pioneers of the global business industry, you can now learn how to be a successful entrepreneur, by reading certain books.  These books will give you basic knowledge about being an entrepreneur and share advice on what happens while on the journey to entrepreneurial success. So here 10 best business books every entrepreneur must read.

1. Zero to One by Peter Thiel

Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future is a 2014 book by the American entrepreneur and investor Peter Thiel co-written with Blake Masters. The book is a collection of lectures on Startsup delivered by  Peter Thiel, during his teaching years at Stanford.

Thiel and blake put together a hard-hitting set of standards for entrepreneurs, startups, and thought-leaders to carefully consider when building a business that’s aimed at shaping the future of our society.

2. The Entrepreneur Mind by Kevin D. Johnson

The Entrepreneur Mind by Kevin D Johnson is one of the best business books every entrepreneur must read.  The book teaches the mindset to build a successful business, noting the 100 essential beliefs, characteristics, and habits of elite entrepreneurs.

Kevin D. Johnson knows that to help entrepreneurs around the world change their mindset in order to be successful. In his book, The Entrepreneur Mind, Kevin D. Johnson talks about the different ways to change your way of thinking in order to start a business, make it grow, and make it last.

3. The $100 Startup by Chris Gillebeau

In The $100 Startup, Chris Guillebeau shows why you don’t need a lot of money to start a successful business. The book features 50 case studies of people who have built businesses earning $50,000 or more from a small investment — often $100 or less.

And, most of these people had no special skills, to begin with, but discovered aspects of their personal passions that could be monetized. This book will help you find the intersection between your passions and skills, and what other people are willing to pay for.

4. The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferris

The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich by Tim Ferris is one of the books every entrepreneur must read. The book often referred to as “The Bible of Lifestyle Design,” shows you how to live more and work less. This business book constantly challenges conventional thought.

In the Book, Ferris noted why you should forget the outdated concept of working life, followed by retirement. You’ll also learn how to use time and location to gain financial leverage. At its heart, this book for entrepreneurs is about productivity and effectiveness — covering topics such as prioritizing, outsourcing, and automation.

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5. The Lean Startup by Eric Ries

Another book on the must-read business books for entrepreneurs is The Lean Startup: How Today’s Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses by Eric Ries. The book shows entrepreneurs how to bootstrap a business, gain traction, and keep it lean for maximum results.

The book is centered around taking action, constantly testing, and relentlessly adapting. Due to the Constant digital innovation bewildering the business world, Ries argues that “the only way to win is to learn faster than anyone else.” He also provides an innovative, hands-on process for becoming a more adaptable company.

6. Rework by Jason Fried and David Hansson

Rework is one of the best business books every entrepreneur must read. In the book, Jason Fried and David Hansson challenge mainstream business mindset and culture, noting that you need far less than you think to start a successful enterprise.

According to the authors, what you need is to prioritize more. To say ‘no’ more. To stop talking, researching, and planning and start doing. You’ll also learn why plans are harmful, outside investors are unnecessary, and why ignoring the competition is best.

7. The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz

As one of Silicon Valley’s most respected and experienced entrepreneurs, Ben Horowitz offers essential advice on building and running a business. Many people highlight the excitement of life as an entrepreneur. But in this business book, Horowitz also shines a light on the difficulties and struggles entrepreneurs face.

What’s particularly interesting is that Horowitz starts by arguing that there’s no formula for success. But, that you can learn invaluable lessons from others’ failures and hardships. It’s a great read for entrepreneurs looking for a mentor to guide them through their journey.

8. Crush It! by Gary Vaynerchuk

Gary takes a very motivating and persuasive voice in his book Crush It! by motivating you to move on to your passions. The book showcases new lessons, advice, tactics, and strategies taken from his own experiences, and that of many other powerful influencers and entrepreneurs.

In Crush It! he goes other the many reasons why you should stop sitting on your couch dreaming about the day you will get paid to do what you love. He wants you to get out of your comfort zone and create a happy and passionate life for yourself.

9. The Psychology of Selling by Brian Tracy

It is quite impossible to build a successful business enterprise, without a good sale technique. According to Tracy, Having a great product doesn’t do anything if you don’t know how to approach the person and make them fall in love with you and the product.

Through the  Psychology of Selling, Brian Tracy gives valuable information and strategies on how to make more selling by focusing on one thing – the person. Sometimes entrepreneurs forget the basics of selling and jump right over to get results, but in order to get results, you need to know the basics.

10. Purple Cow:  by Seth Godin

In Purple Cow, Seth Godin demonstrates how the traditional P’s of marketing (product, price, promotion, place, etc.) don’t work like they used to. Because there’s a new ‘P’ that’s now more important: the ‘Purple Cow’.

A ‘purple cow’ is Godin’s metaphor for something phenomenal, counterintuitive, and remarkable. Simply, cows are boring after you’ve seen a few. But a Purple Cow? Now, that would grab everyone’s attention. In this book, Godin explains how every business is either remarkable or invisible in today’s market.

He also explains how to stand out from the competition in order to thrive.